New York Theater Week July 23 to July 30, 2012

Scene from “Into The Woods” at the Public Theater’s Delacorte in Central Park, which began previews this past week.

Two shows are opening on Broadway this coming week, the middle of the summer: “Bring It On: The Musical” on Wednesday and “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth” on Thursday. This past week in New York theater had its own kind of cheerleading and prizefighting.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Old TV series Gilligan’s Island, Three’s Company, and Green Acres, which have been or will be presented on stage.

Sitcom Monday:

Edward Albee, Stephen Sondheim, Tony Kushner, and more than 500 other people have signed this letter by Jon Robin Baitz supporting playwright David Adjmi, whose play “3C,” a spoof of “Three’s Company,” ran recently at Rattlestick Theater. “Mr Adjmi has received a threatening “Protest Letter” from the law firm of Kenyon & Kenyon, which represents DLT Entertainment, the owners of the long defunct TV sitcom Three’s Company. The letter accuses him of copyright infringement….”

Inclement weather has bumped the first preview of Into the Woods at Shakespeare in the Park from today to tomorrow.

Well-staged and wonderfully acted by a 11-member cast that includes stand-out Lindsay Mendez as Rose, “Dogfight” as a musical deserves attention. So much veteran talent is involved in creating this stage adaptation, and it shows – swift, competent direction by Joe Montello (Wicked, Assassins), well-integrated, muscular choreography by Chris Gattelli (Newsies), an interesting two-tiered set and apt costume design by David Zinn (Seminar, Other Desert Cities). But it is the newcomers that have generated the most excitement for this chamber musical: composer-lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and librettist Peter Duchan. And it is their work with which I have the most problems, especially Duchan’s whose book tries to be faithful to both the letter and the spirit of the film, which starred Lili Taylor and River Phoenix, who died two years later.

Harvey Fierstein @HarveyFierstein They asked me to play me in SMASH. Do I have the required range. I’ve heard I’m quite brilliant.

The Drama League Theater Center opens later this year at 32 Sixth Ave (Tribeca), with focus on education,though some play readings

Working, Stephen Schwartz’s 1978 adaptation of Studs Terkel bestseller, with new material by Linn Manuel Miranda, will be presented at Primary Stages Dec 1-30Working deserves new life. Lasted 3 weeks,but got 5 Tony noms,& includes the only songs James Taylor has written for the theater